The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
Kayla didn't know what to expect upon landing.
She was quite nervous as the exit door to the ship slid open. But Than-guan was right there with her, and he gently grasped her hand as he led her down the short ramp onto solid ground.
The port they landed in was not overly crowded and there were maybe a handful of yautja walking around here and there.
All of them were quite imposing in their size. And it made her stay very close to Than-guan's side as they walked through the port to get to town.
Unlike the port, the town was pretty crowded and yautja of all ages seemed to be out and about. And when Kayla saw a female yautja for the first time, she almost couldn't stop staring.
Most of them towered over the males, who seemed to give them a pretty wide berth in passing.
Than-guan wasn't kidding when he said the females were bigger and more formidable than the males. Definitely wouldn't want to piss one off.
Quite a few yautja seemed to be staring at her though as she walked past with Than-guan. It made her a little uneasy that they were staring. She stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only human here and all.
Hopefully, no one gives them a hard time.
Especially, after her hunter told her not everyone was privy to the idea of a human being among them or the fact that one of their kind mated with one.
He did assure her that no one here would harm her. At the most, some would probably ignore her or not even acknowledge her.
At this time, Than-guan was taking her back to his, well, 'their' home now; to get her settled in. From there, if she was feeling up to it, then he may take her out and introduce her to some of his family and friends.
He also knew that the Elders would like to meet her soon after her arrival here.
Than-guan would also like to show her around town. He would also like to set her up with a healer that can monitor her pregnancy as it progresses.
At least they still had plenty of time to prepare. There were still quite a few months before the pup's arrival. And he wanted to make sure Kayla would be comfortable.
Because while this would be his thirteenth time being a father, this was Kayla's first time being a mother. He knew her well enough that she'd probably get a little more anxious as the months drag on.
They did talk a little about pregnancy on his ship. Though he's unsure if it was all that helpful to her. All he could really tell her what yautja females expected during pregnancy.
But Kayla wasn't a yautja female. And he didn't really know much about human pregnancies.
Though she did fill him in on what it's like for human women. How their pregnancy lasts for up to nine months. That there are three trimesters during the pregnancy cycle.
How hormones will fluctuate periodically, and many women will develop odd food cravings.
The food craving's part was always weird to him. It's something that his kinds' females tended to go through too at certain times. He's seen it plenty of times before with past mates and some of his sisters during their pregnancies.
He was also well aware of how temperamental they became too at times.
Than-guan mentally cringed when he remembered one time he was visiting a pregnant mate and he went into her food storage and ate the last two naxa fruit in there.
When she found out, she got very pissed. She practically chased Than-guan out of her house and demanded he buy her more. This was after she punched him in the head and shoved him into the wall.
The male at the food stand he was at; couldn't stop laughing after Than-guan answered his question on why he was buying out most of the naxa fruit at his stand.
But at least he understood Than-guan's reasoning for it. He kind of felt bad for him too and gave him a discount for the fruit.
Looking back, he really can't complain though. The female whose name was Ta'roga bore him a healthy and strong daughter, whom she named Rakshasa. She was the fourth pup out of the twelve children he currently had.
All twelve of his pups were born strong and healthy and he was proud of all of them. His eldest pup was seventy years old which was equivalent to fifteen years old in human years. And his youngest was thirteen years old but equivalent to an eight-year-old human child.
Then for a while there, he took a long hiatus from mating to focus more on more challenging training and hunts.
Than-guan had mated around seven females in his time. Some of them more than once. But he never really felt any strong connection or feelings towards them.
Nothing like what he had with Kayla.
But he is grateful to them for providing him with children. Even if they all do currently live with their mothers and he only ever stops by once and a while to see them.
He knows though that when he mentioned this to Kayla in the past, it did bother her. Because after he told her he wanted to be mates with her she admitted she was concerned that he may not be around their children all that much and it didn't sit well that he would only see them time to time.
Once she told him this though, he told her it was different with Life Mates. They live together and both have been known to raise their children together as well.
He assured her that he wasn't going anywhere. That he will always be with her and their children.
She did feel better after he told her this. And she could tell he meant it. They were in this together. He wouldn't abandon her once their child was born, and he wouldn't just make house calls whenever he saw fit.
Than-guan made it clear he was in for the long haul. He wanted to share and experience everything with her.
Kayla found their society to be quite fascinating as they continued their walk. It was like there was some similarities between them and humans. But at the same time, there were many differences.
It was certainly going to be quite an adjustment and a big learning experience.
But at least she was learning everything she can from Than-guan. Which will really help her learn to adapt to his home world. Because she certainly didn't want to mess up anything while here.
Kayla just wanted to fit in as best as she could.
They finally made it to his home. And he made sure to show her around and make her feel at home. There were quite a few different rooms. And each one was a decent size.
One of the last rooms he showed her was the trophy room.
The young woman was quite intrigued and impressed by all the skulls that decorated each wall on either side of the room. They all ranged in different sizes and shapes.
Some of the oddest ones that she inquired about he told her what beast they were.
It amazed her that he recalls the story behind each and every one of these skulls and how he obtained them. He even showed her the scars some of them have left on his body that he received during the fights.
Afterwards, Than-guan led her further into the room and down to a spot on the wall that was quite bare.
Kayla did spot at least two more trophy skulls on the wall. One was quite familiar to her. It was her kuty'y'ae skull. She could tell by the hole in the middle of its head where she ran it through with her combi stick.
Then there was the skull next to it. It was clearly the skull of a yautja. She gave it a good long stare before shifting her gaze to Than-guan.
"Is this Lar'nix'va?" She asked.
He shook his head.
"No, that one up there is." Than-guan said and pointed to the yautja skull a couple feet above her.
"This one is Mar'cte's. This is your trophy. I put both of your trophies up here on the wall. That way you know they are here. Hunters are proud of their accomplishments and like to preserve a special place to showcase them.
This is where I obviously keep all of mine. And this is where we can now keep yours. Because even if you don't think it at times; you are a hunter. And a worthy one at that." He told her.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Midnight." Kayla said.
"You're welcome." He replied.
They were then interrupted by a small sound coming from his wrist comp.
Someone was calling him.
"Excuse me, for a moment." He told her.
Then he pressed a couple buttons and spoke.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Hello, Than-guan. I just heard from Kuhjade that you left to go get your companion on Earth." Came the voice of his mother.
The hunter grumbled.
'Of course, Kuhjade would feel the need to inform mom and probably everyone else I knew that he went to Earth to retrieve Kayla.' He thought sarcastically.
"Yeah, we just arrived back a little while ago. I've been showing Kayla around. At the moment, I was giving her a tour of our home, and getting her settled in." He replied.
"Sounds great. Let me know when your both ready to receive visitors. I'd still like to come by and meet her." His mom said.
"Ok, you'll be the first to know." Than-guan promised.
"Thank you. I hope she settles in ok. And I'll talk to you later." She says.
"Alright, later then." He replied, then he cut off the call.
Than-guan turned his attention back to Kayla.
"That was just my mother calling. Apparently, one of my friends informed her I was on my way to pick you up from Earth. She was just reminding me that she would like to meet you once your all settled in." He told her.
The young woman bit her lip and looked away for a moment.
"Think she'll like me?" She asks.
Than-guan smiled down at her, "She already does, Kayla."
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes, she saw the recording feed on my bio mask and Vor'metka's. She saw the fights we had with the bad bloods. She saw you kill Mar'cte and save me from Lar'nix'va's blades. My siblings and some of my children saw it all too. And of course, the Elders. They were all quite impressed." He explained.
"I know you showed the Elders, because they needed to see and hear the evidence. But didn't know you showed your family too." Kayla said.
"Because they too had a right to see the evidence. And to see how amazing you truly are." Than-guan said.
She blushed a little at his compliment.
"Well, at least now they all know about me. So that's a plus there." She said, with some amusement in her voice.
He chuckled a little, "Yeah, and my friend Kuhjade is never going to let me live it down that I got my ass saved by a 'human'. I already dread the stories he's going to tell you about me when he meets you. Same with my other friend, Borg."
A devious grin appeared on her face.
"Oh good, because I'm going to make sure to tell him not to leave any details out." She teased.
Kayla then started laughing when he groaned and ran a hand down his face after that comment.
"Why do I feel you are going to drive me crazy for the rest of my life?" He inquired.
She flashed him a grin, "Because that's what husbands and wives, or in this case; Life Mates do."
Than-guan was silent for a moment, before he busted out laughing.
"So, you're saying I really shot myself in the foot then by taking you for a Life Mate. I already can't wait to see where this goes. Either way, I'm sure we'll never be bored with all the different ways we can amuse each other." He said, once he was done laughing.
"Yeah, I shudder to think what you'll do next time I annoy you. Hopefully, not stick me out in the pouring rain again, and hold me out just past the doorway like you did when we were in that cave together behind the waterfall." She retorted.
"No, I wouldn't do something like that again." He said.
"Good." She said, in relief.
"What I meant is, I won't stick you outside of the door next time when it rains. I'll stick you out on the roof." He teased.
Her eyes widened before turning into a small glare.
"You better not. Or I'll make you sleep outside in the yard when it rains." She threatened.
He leaned down to her level with a grin.
"Good luck, my mate. It won't work. Because I know the codes to unlock the doors. You don't and after that threat, I' don't think I'll share the codes with you. That way if you do annoy me, I can thoroughly lock you out." Than-guan countered.
"Try it, Midnight. And no more sex for you. Your hands will become your new best friends." Kayla quipped.
That got him, his eyes widened, and he quickly reconsidered the threat. Which made her laugh. Even though she knows he was being dramatic on purpose when he whined and cried about it and gave her a damn good impression of a kicked puppy.
"Ok, Mr. Comedian. You still have yet to finish showing me the house. I believe there are still at least a couple more rooms left." She said, between laughs.
His face brightened and his grin widened.
"You're right. Can't forget the most important room in the house. Come, let me go show you the bedroom." He ended with a purr.
Kayla rolled her eyes.
"And you say I can't keep my hormones on check. That's a load of shit if I ever did hear any." She sarcastically replied.
"That is why the rooms are soundproof. Including the bathroom." He joked.
At first, she didn't get it. Then it finally hit her.
"Oh, c'mon, Midnight! That is so nasty! Didn't need to know that!" She said with a disgusted look.
He just laughed it off though. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and started to lead her out of the trophy room.
Yeah, she doeubts they'll ever have a dull moment with their antics. Throw a kid in the mix and you got a full house.
Until Next Time ;)